ATI RN
Ethics & Issues in Contemporary Nursing Questions
Question 1 of 9
A novice nurse notices a patient is pacing the floor and twisting his hands. When the nurse enters the room, the patient stares at her and mumbles, "Can't anyone understand what I want?" while smiling and reaching out to shake the nurse's hand. The nurse recognizes a risk for violence based on which clinical findings? (select all that apply)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because glaring at the nurse indicates potential aggression and hostility, which are red flags for violence risk. Glaring can be a non-verbal sign of anger or frustration, signaling a potential escalation. In contrast, nervousness and twisting of hands (choice B) may indicate anxiety or distress but not necessarily violence. Murmuring when talking (choice C) may suggest communication difficulties but does not directly indicate violence risk. Lastly, a diagnosis of a terminal illness (choice D) is not directly related to the immediate risk of violence in this scenario.
Question 2 of 9
The use of research to guide nursing practice is called:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: utilization. Research utilization refers to the application of research findings in nursing practice to improve patient outcomes. Utilization involves integrating research evidence into clinical decision-making. Dissemination (B) refers to sharing research findings. Generalizability (C) pertains to the extent to which research findings can be applied to different populations or settings. Analysis (D) involves examining data to draw conclusions, but it does not specifically relate to using research in practice like utilization does.
Question 3 of 9
A nurse is hoping for a promotion and seeks the help of a coach to improve time management skills. The first task assigned by the coach is for the nurse to list all external distractors that prevent organization and completion of tasks. The nurse would include:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because waiting for the oncoming shift to start walking rounds is an external distractor that can affect time management. The nurse cannot control when the shift starts, leading to potential delays in task completion. Incorrect choices: B: Failure to delegate tasks is an internal issue, not an external distractor. C: Talking with a patient's family member who is a personal friend is a boundary issue, not necessarily an external distractor. D: Thinking about a vacation is also an internal distraction, not an external one. In summary, the correct answer focuses on an external factor that the nurse cannot directly control, affecting time management, while the other choices are related to internal issues or personal boundaries.
Question 4 of 9
An RN makes the following assignments at the beginning of the shift. Which assignment would be considered high-risk delegation?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because it involves a high-risk delegation. Mixing insulin is a complex task that requires precise measurements and understanding of the patient's condition. A novice RN may lack the experience and knowledge to safely perform this task, leading to potential harm for the patient. Choice B involves wound care, which is within an LPN's scope of practice and not as high-risk as insulin administration. Choice C involves basic ambulation assistance, which is appropriate for an unlicensed assistive person under supervision. Choice D involves caring for a patient with low white blood cell count, which may be challenging but not as high-risk as insulin mixing for a novice RN.
Question 5 of 9
A nurse gives Dilantin intravenously with lactated Ringer's solution containing multivitamins. The drug precipitates and obstructs the only existing line. When the team leader informs the nurse that these drugs cannot be mixed, the nurse states, "Everyone just pushes the medicine slowly. No one checks for compatibility. There isn't even a compatibility chart on the unit." Which type of logical fallacy has influenced the nurse?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Appeal to common practice. The nurse's argument that "everyone just pushes the medicine slowly" and that "no one checks for compatibility" is based on the common practice in the unit rather than on scientific evidence or guidelines. This logical fallacy assumes that just because something is commonly done, it must be correct. In this case, the nurse is disregarding the importance of checking drug compatibility and following proper protocols. Incorrect choices: A: Ad hominem abusive - This choice involves attacking the person making the argument rather than addressing the argument itself, which is not evident in the scenario. C: Appeal to emotion - This choice would involve using emotions to manipulate the audience rather than relying on logic or evidence, which is not the case in the scenario. D: Appeal to tradition - This choice would involve arguing that something is right or good because it has been done that way for a long time, which is not explicitly stated in the scenario.
Question 6 of 9
Qualified nursing school applicants have continued to be turned away, limiting enrollment due to a shortage of faculty, which is attributed to several factors, including:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because it directly addresses the shortage of nursing faculty by highlighting the issue of burnout and job dissatisfaction, which leads to faculty turnover and limits enrollment. This explanation aligns with the initial statement that qualified applicants are being turned away due to the shortage of faculty. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not directly address the main issue of faculty shortage. B talks about the stability of faculty numbers in Associate Degree programs, which is irrelevant to the shortage. C discusses the decrease in the mean age of nursing faculty and the departure of older mentors, but this does not explain the shortage of faculty. D mentions increasing job competition from clinical sites, which is not the primary reason for the shortage of nursing faculty.
Question 7 of 9
Time is becoming crucial for the nurse to address issues related to sponsoring programs to include hearing aid costs as part of Medicare coverage. The nurse involved in grassroots political actions realizes that the least timely method of reaching elected officials would be via:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: letter. Writing a physical letter and sending it through traditional mail is the least timely method of reaching elected officials. It takes longer for letters to be delivered and processed compared to other electronic forms of communication like telephone, email, and fax. Elected officials may not receive and respond to letters in a timely manner, especially when time is crucial. Telephone, email, and fax offer quicker and more direct communication, allowing for faster responses and action. Therefore, choosing to reach out to elected officials via a letter would be the least timely method in this scenario.
Question 8 of 9
A nurse walks up to a computer in the hallway and presses the index finger to the sensor, thereby gaining access to patient datA few moments later another nurse performs the same steps and is granted access. A visitor who is watching from a room walks over and places the index finger on the sensor, only to receive an "error and access denied" message. Security is being maintained by:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: biometric technology. Biometric technology uses unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, to verify identity. In this scenario, the nurse and the other authorized person were granted access because their fingerprints matched the stored data. The visitor was denied access because their fingerprint did not match. A: Robot technology is not related to verifying identity through fingerprints. C: Telehealth is a method of providing healthcare remotely and is not related to access control. D: Ubiquitous computing refers to the idea of computing technology being everywhere, but it is not directly related to biometric security measures like fingerprint scanning.
Question 9 of 9
A group of nurses are assembling outside a hospital protesting the use of foreign nurses after several nurses were terminated due to what the hospital called recurring "decreased census." The nurses carry signs with messages asking potential patients to seek care elsewhere. The local newspaper picked up the story, and the hospital is receiving negative press. The nurses are participating in:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: picketing. Picketing involves protesting outside a workplace to draw attention to an issue, such as the use of foreign nurses in this case. The nurses are not actively refusing to work (strike), negotiating work conditions (collective bargaining), or submitting their dispute to a third party for resolution (arbitration). Picketing is the most appropriate term for their actions in this scenario.